Container transporting and maintaining apparatus

ABSTRACT

Container transporting and maintaining apparatus is disclosed adapted to be mounted to a container-handling vehicle. The apparatus comprises a ramp and a boom, and means for reciprocally moving an end portion of the boom along a path extending adjacent the ramp with at least a portion of the path approaching the ramp. Container-gripping means are pivotally mounted to the boom end portion. Support wheel means are rotatably mounted to the container gripping means to roll upon the ramp as the boom end portion is moved along said path. This combination of elements permits the container-gripping means to be pivoted as the boom end portion to which it is pivotally mounted is moved along the path approaching the ramp with the support wheel means rolling upon the ramp.

United States Patent [1 1 Sink, Sr.

CONTAINER TRANSPORTING AND MAINTAINING APPARATUS Inventor: Fred N. Sink, Sr 1133 Gillionville Rd., Albany, Ga. 31705 I Filed: Nov. 28, 1973 Appl. No.: 419,650

U.S.'Cl. 214/707, 214/103, 214/313 Int. CL; B65g 47/00 Field of Search-..;.-. 214/103, 105, 108, 652, 214/705, 706, 707, 670, 313, 315, 302,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1935 Bach 214/103 8/1938 Schroeder 214/672 3/1965 Dempster et al. 214/302 7/1966 Oliver .1 214/315 [11'] 3,861,547. Jan. 21, 1975 Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby [57] ABSTRACT Container transporting and maintaining apparatus is disclosed adapted to be mounted to a containerhandling vehicle. The apparatus comprises a ramp and a boom, and means for reciprocally moving an end portion of the boom along a path extending adjacent the ramp with at least a portion of the path approaching the ramp.- Container-gripping means are pivotally mounted to the boom end portion. Support wheel means are rotatably mounted to the container gripping means to roll upon the ramp as the boom end portion is moved along said path. This combination of elements permits the container-gripping means to be pivoted as the'boom end portion to which it is pivotally mounted is moved along the path approaching the ramp with the support wheel means rolling upon the ramp.

, 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANZI ms 3.861.547 SHEET 10F 33' PATENTEDJANZ 1 1975 saw 2 OF 3 PATENI- ED JAN 21 I975 SHEET 3 BF 3 CONTAINER TRANSPORTING AND MAINTAINING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to container transporting and maintaining apparatuses, and particularly to container transporting and maintaining apparatus of the type adapted to be mounted to container-handling vehicles.

Vehicles which retrieve and dispose of refuse, such as Dempster Dumpsters, for example, are relatively large and bulky. Their resulting unwieldy character restricts their maneuverability and limits the areas into which they may be moved to those that are readily accessible and of relatively large size. As a result, refuse containers to be serviced by such vehicles must be located in relatively open spaces often at some distance from adjacent buildings or other structures. Containers so located are consequently visually exposed, whereby their general unsightliness .is easily viewed andtheir odorous presence easily sensed. Those left in restricted areas closely adjacent buildings, or otherstructures such as fences and the like, must be moved out from these close areas for periodic pick-up by refuse retrieving and dispensing vehicles. These characteristics thus present the dilemma of having regularly either to locate such refuse containers in exposed areas where they may be seen and smelled, or locating them in relatively close and unexposed areas where they'are not easily viewed but from which they must be manually or otherwise periodically-moved for pick-up and return.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide improved container transporting and maintaining apparatus.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide container transporting and maintaining apparatus which is of relatively small size and light 'i weight;

vehicle and a pair of inclined tracks supported by'the frame. A boom is mounted for movement along the tracks. An hydraulic cylinder is coupled with the boom for reciprocally moving the boom along the tracks. Container-gripping means are pivotally mounted to the boom. A pair of support wheels is rotatably mounted beneath the container-gripping wheels. A pair of ramps is supported by the frame upon which the support wheels may roll as the boom is moved along the tracks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofcontainer transporting and maintaining apparatus embodying principles of the invention in one preferred formf FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1..

'FIG. 3 is a side view in cross section taken along plane 3-3 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and with V the apparatus disposed in an operative position for en- Another object of the invention is to provide container transporting and maintaining apparatus which may be mounted to a vehicle without rendering the vehicle unwieldy. Yetanother object of the invention is to provide relatively inexpensive container transporting and maintaining apparatus which may be mounted to'a containerhandling vehicle with facility. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION- In one form of the present invention container trans porting and maintaining apparatus is provided which is adapted to be mounted to a container-handling vehicle.

gaging a containerfor hoisting. r

, FIG. 4 is another side view in crosssection taken along plane 3-3 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and with the apparatus shown in an operative position .with

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring now in more detail to the drawing, there is shown container transporting and maintaining apparatus comprising a frame which includes two parallel lbeams IO adapted to bewelded atop a truck or other type container-handling vehicle. The frame also includes an inverted'U-shaped support member 12 bridging the two I-beams. Two bifurcated guide tracks 14 are mounted at one end thereof to the U-shaped member 12. The tracks are of the channel type, being formed from two angle irons secured togetherby bars 15. Two U-shaped angle irons 16 are welded to the upper surface of the bifurcated track and onto I-beams 10 to support portions of the track above the I-beams pairs of branches 20'and 22. Branches 20 extend down wardly at an incline to the horizontal to terminate upon l-beams 10 while branches 22 extend horizontally to The apparatuscomprises a ramp, a boom, and means for reciprocally moving an end portion of the boom along a path extending adjacentthe ramp with at least a portion of the path approaching the ramp. Containergripping means are pivotally mounted to the boom end portion. Support wheel means are rotatably mounted to the container-gripping means to roll upon the ramp as the boom end portion is moved along the path. With this arrangement the container-gripping means may be merge with arcuate sections 24 which, in turn, merge into linear sections 25. Linearsections 25 terminate upon I-beams 10 with lip portions 26 projecting downwardly over the ends thereof. The upper surfaces 25' of track linear sections 25 provide ramps as hereinafter described in more detail.

-A boom 30, having a set of rollers 32, is mounted for movement along track 14- with the rollers rotatably disposed within the trackc'hannels. An hydraulic cylinder 33 is pivotallymounted at one end to support 12 and with an actuating rod 33- pivotally coupled with boom 30. The end portion of .the boom distal cylinder 33 includes twopairs of spaced, triangular members 35 through which is journalled a pivot rod 36. To rod 36 j is pivotally-mounted container-gripping means which includes a pair of tines 40 extending in a generally horizontal direction from a transverse frame member 42. Tines 40 are .detailed injconfiguration to be inserted through tubular handles 44' of a container 45. A pair of support wheels 46 is rotatably mounted beneath thetransverse frame member. The vertically extending leading edges of members 35 provide a structural stop limiting pivotal movement of frame 42.

In operation, the just-described container transporting and maintaining apparatus may be positioned to effect pick-up as depicted in FIGS. 1-3. In this position cylinder actuating rod 33' is extended to locate boom 30 with end portion 35 extending forwardly of I-beams 10. In this position the container-gripping means is disposed with tines 40 projecting horizontally so that the vehicle upon which the apparatus is mounted may be maneuvered to locate the tines within tubular handles 44 as shown in FIG. 1. After the tines have been inserted through tubular handles cylinder 33 may be actuated to move boom 30 rearwardly and upwardly along the inclined portions of track 14. This movement brings wheels 46 into engagement with ramp lip 26. Continued contraction of the cylinder causes the container-gripping means to roll upwardly along ramp 25' with tines 40 pivoted slightly upwardly. Further contraction of the cylinder brings rollers 32 onto the arcuate portion 24 of the track. As rollers 32 continue along this arcuate portion, roller support members 50 pivot on boom 30 enabling the boom to follow an arcuate path bringing boom forward portion 35 towards ramp 25. With wheels 46 still rotatably disposed upon the linear, inclined portion of the ramp the containergripping means is thus caused to pivot and bring tine end portions 48 to a raised position above frame 42 as shown in FIG. 4. Continued contraction of cylinder 33 brings rollers 32 into the linear, horizontal portion of track 14 until the leading rollers are stopped in track detents 56, thereby placing the containertransporting and maintaining apparatus in-the transport position. For delivery of containers the sequence is reversed with the cylinder 33 extending actuator rod 33 causing the container-gripping means to be lowered and rotated back to the position shown in FIGS. l-3 with frame 42 stopped in a vertical'orientation by the end portion of the boom. i

The just-described apparatus is of simple, unbulky and relatively inexpensive-construction which is readily adaptable to be mounted atop a truck or other containirons. The fact that one of theangle irons of which the track is composed provides a ramp further simplifies the construction. Wheels 46 on the container-gripping means may be seen to-inhibit the tines-from contacting the surface upon which the vehicle is supported while simultaneously providing the function of pivoting the gripping means up upon the ramp. It will also be noted that engagement of the wheels .with lip 26- causes the gripping means to pivot slightly at a very early stage in the movement of the container 45 which action serves to prevent the container from slipping from the tines as hoisting is commenced. Once to the fully raised position, the gripping means is inclined much further to dispose container 45 at an angle of approximately 45 to the horizontal to insure safe and secure container transportation.

It should be understood that the just-described embodiment merely illustrates principles of the invention in one form. Many modifications may, or course, be made to the just-described embodiment without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Container transporting and maintaining apparatus adapted to be mounted to a container-handling vehicle and comprising an inclined ramp, a boom, means for reciprocally moving an end portion of said boom along a path extending adjacent said ramp and means for maintaining the boom at a substantially constant inclination during said moving with at least a portion of said path approaching said ramp, a pivotal connection, container-gripping means pivotally mounted by said pivotal connection to said boom end portion, said pivotal connection being movable generally parallel to said ramp, and support wheel means rotatably mounted to said container-gripping means to roll upon said ramp as said boom end portion is moved along said path, whereby the container-gripping means is pivoted as the boom end portion to which it is pivotally mounted is moved along the said path portion approaching the ramp with the support wheel means contacting and subsequently rolling upon the ramp.

2. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container-gripping means includes a frame member to the bottom of which said support wheel means are rotatably mounted, and a pair of spaced tines projecting from said frame.

3. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 2 wherein said boom end portion includes a stop surface to limit pivotal movement of said container-gripping means frame member.

4. The container transporting and maintaining appa ratus of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal moving means includes an hydraulic cylinder coupled with said boom.

5. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal moving means includes a guide track and said boomincludes a set of rollers rotatably mounted on said guide track.

6. The container transportingand maintaining apparatus of claim 5 wherein said ramp extends along a pm tion of said guide track.

7. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 5 wherein said guide track is bifurcated.

8. A container transporting and maintaining apparatus comprising a' frame having longitudinal and transverse dimensions adapted to be mounted to a containe'r-handling vehicle, two pair of inclined tracks, each pair being aligned with the longitudinal dimension of said frame and spaced transversely of said boom and supported by said frame, a boom mounted for movement aligned with the longitudinal dimension along said'tracks, an hydraulic cylinder coupled with said boom for reciprocally moving said boom along said tracks, while maintaining the boom generally horizontal, container-gripping means pivotally mounted to said boom, a pair of support wheels rotatably mounted be-' neath said container-gripping means, and a pair of inclined ramps supported by said frame toward which said support wheels approach and subsequently engage to roll upon as said boom is moved along said tracks.

9. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said tracks comprises a pair of angle irons with a surface of one angle iron of each track providing one of said ramps.

10. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said tracks and each of said ramps has a linear section and an arcuate'section extending from said linear section. 

1. Container transporting and maintaining apparatus adapted to be mounted to a container-handling vehicle and comprising an inclined ramp, a boom, means for reciprocally moving an end portion of said boom along a path extending adjacent said ramp and means for maintaining the boom at a substantially constant inclination during said moving with at least a portion of said path approaching said ramp, a pivotal connection, containergripping means pivotally mounted by said pivotal connection to said boom end portion, Said pivotal connection being movable generally parallel to said ramp, and support wheel means rotatably mounted to said container-gripping means to roll upon said ramp as said boom end portion is moved along said path, whereby the container-gripping means is pivoted as the boom end portion to which it is pivotally mounted is moved along the said path portion approaching the ramp with the support wheel means contacting and subsequently rolling upon the ramp.
 2. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container-gripping means includes a frame member to the bottom of which said support wheel means are rotatably mounted, and a pair of spaced tines projecting from said frame.
 3. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 2 wherein said boom end portion includes a stop surface to limit pivotal movement of said container-gripping means frame member.
 4. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal moving means includes an hydraulic cylinder coupled with said boom.
 5. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal moving means includes a guide track and said boom includes a set of rollers rotatably mounted on said guide track.
 6. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 5 wherein said ramp extends along a portion of said guide track.
 7. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 5 wherein said guide track is bifurcated.
 8. A container transporting and maintaining apparatus comprising a frame having longitudinal and transverse dimensions adapted to be mounted to a container-handling vehicle, two pair of inclined tracks, each pair being aligned with the longitudinal dimension of said frame and spaced transversely of said boom and supported by said frame, a boom mounted for movement aligned with the longitudinal dimension along said tracks, an hydraulic cylinder coupled with said boom for reciprocally moving said boom along said tracks, while maintaining the boom generally horizontal, container-gripping means pivotally mounted to said boom, a pair of support wheels rotatably mounted beneath said container-gripping means, and a pair of inclined ramps supported by said frame toward which said support wheels approach and subsequently engage to roll upon as said boom is moved along said tracks.
 9. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said tracks comprises a pair of angle irons with a surface of one angle iron of each track providing one of said ramps.
 10. The container transporting and maintaining apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said tracks and each of said ramps has a linear section and an arcuate section extending from said linear section. 